Pakistan cricket legend Shoaib Akhtar did not mince words in his criticism of Babar Azam following Pakistan’s defeat to India in the ICC Champions Trophy.
Frustrated by Babar’s underwhelming performance, Akhtar went as far as calling the Pakistan captain a “fraud” and questioned his ability to lead from the front.
Babar, who scored just 23 runs off 26 balls before falling to Hardik Pandya, has been struggling with form in international cricket. Akhtar also dismissed comparisons between Babar and Virat Kohli, arguing that while Kohli has built a lasting legacy, Babar has yet to prove himself at the highest level.
“We always compare Babar Azam to Virat Kohli. Now tell me, who is the hero of Virat Kohli? Sachin Tendulkar, and he has scored 100 centuries while Virat is chasing his legacy,” Akhtar remarked on the show Game On Hai. “Who is Babar Azam’s hero? Tuk tuk (sound of defensive play),” he added, indirectly criticizing Babar’s batting approach.
Akhtar went on to criticize Babar for looking up to the wrong role models, implying that his mentality and way of playing the game were off the mark. “You have picked the wrong heroes. Your thought process is wrong. You were a fraud from the beginning. I would not even wish to talk about the Pakistan cricket team. I am only doing this because I am getting paid,” he said.
While taking Babar to task, Akhtar couldn’t stop singing Virat Kohli’s praises, highlighting how Kohli’s match-defining innings—his 51st ODI hundred—steered India to an easy six-wicket win.
“We have seen this in the past. When you tell Virat Kohli that he has to play against Pakistan, he will score a century. Hats off to him, he’s like a superstar! He’s a white-ball run chaser! Modern-day great! No doubt about him. I’m very happy for him. He deserves all the praise,” Akhtar added.
Pakistan’s defeat against India was their second straight loss in the tournament, putting their semifinal chances on life support.
Should New Zealand beat Bangladesh on Monday, Babar Azam’s team will be officially knocked out of the running.
